Water-gate.



Patented Sept, I900.

H. A. IGKE.

WATER GATE.

(Application filed July 13, 1899.)

3 Sheets-$heet I.

(No Model.)

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ms uonms Pawns co., FNDYO-LITHO WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 657,774 Patented Sept. ll, I900.

H. A. ICKE.

WATER GATE. (Application filed July 13, 1899.)

(No Model) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

INVEA/W/Y W/TIVESSES:

M AITMPNE/S in: mmms FEVERS co. morouma, wAsnmo'rou, g. c

Patented Sept. ll, I900 H. A. ICKE.

WATER GATE.

(Application filed July 13, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

("o-Model.)

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l m m: rolr W/T VESSESJ [ITO/M578 THE NORRIS FEYERS cu, Punioumcd WASHINGTON. o. c.

UNl'lED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY ARTHUR IOKE, OF PIETERMARITZBURG, NATAL.

WATER-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,774, dated September 11, 1900.

- Application filed July 13, 1899. Serial No. 723,713. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LHENRY ARTHUR ICKE,.

a subject of the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Pietermaritzburg, in the Colony of Natal, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Water-Gates and the Like, of which the following is a specification. My invention consists in an improvement n the form of water-gates and the like and in means for operating the same, whereby a gate forming a complete obstruction to the flow of water to the level of its own height canbe turned through an arc of a circle to a position on the bed of the Waterway in which it forms no obstruction to the free flow of water and returned to the first position or held in any desired position.

My invention consists, essentially, in a gate of curvilinear transverse section, each end of which is attached to and butts against the end oi abalanced beam which is pivoted nearits center to an abutment, pier, or other fixture or against a curved surface in each abutment which coincides with the curve of the gate, as hereinafter more fully described, the gate being lowered or raised by being turned through an angular distance of about sixty degrees around the actual or imaginary pivots as a center--that is, from an approximately-vertical position (the position of the gate when closed) to an approximately-horizontal position, (the position of the gate when open,) in the latter position the gate being wholly or partially contained in a curved dip in the bed of the waterway.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is an elevation of the downstream side; and Fig. 2, a transverse section of a gate of which the moment of the downstream arm of the balanced beam and balance-weight is equal to the moment of the upstream arm of the balanced beam and the weight of the gate, thus leaving only the friction around the pivots to be overcome by the screw-shaft and tackle used to operate it. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views showing two arrangements whereby the gate is operated automatically. Fig. 5 illustrates a gate constructed on a compound curve. Fig. 6 illustrates a further modification. Fig. 7 is a plan of the gate and mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 show detail views of the packing H across the water-channel coacting with the curved gate. Figs. 11 and 12 show detail views of the packing arranged up the sides of the gate.

In the before mentioned figures, A indicates the curved gate; B, the balanced beams; C, the balance-weight; D, the pivots; E, the screw-shaft, which moves the pulley-block F, and thereby the other sheaves and tackle, moving the gate or holding it in any position required, a being the rope by which the gate is raised and b the rope by which the gate is lowered. G indicates the curved dip in the floor of the waterway; H, a water-bar or water-check.

The gate, as shown in all the figures, is at its maximum height and forms an inclined curvilinear fall or tumbling bay, over which the water falls into the curved segmental dip in the floor of the waterway, which serves the double purpose of a water-cushion and a re ceptacle for the gate when lowered. Dotted lines in Figs. 2, 5, and 6 show the position of the gate when lowered, over which the water may fiow'to any depth.

The water-check H at the upstream end of the water-cushion consists, essentially, of a rectangular trough containing an automatic adjusting water-bar or packing-piece, the upper side of which is composed of short blocks of wood and the lower side of an equal number of pieces of board of the same lengths nailed together, with a continuous leather packing between them, the leather packing being returned around and to a little below the edges of the boards. This bar fills the trough for the greater portion of its depth and being flexible is held hard against the upstream side of the deflected gate by a pressure equal to the head of water behind the gate, with which water the lower portion of the trough is connected by pipes, as shown. A feather or shallow ridge is raised along the middle of the bottom of the trough to hold the bar up, so as to admit the water. If considered necessary to increase the pressure when the water is low, a spring or springs may be placed in the bottom of the trough and the feather or ridge omitted. Similar water-bars may also be employed at the ends of the gates when considered necessary to economize water.

Fig. 3 shows a method of operating the gate automatically, so as to make it rise with the height of the water dammed by it,-and thus maintaining a uniform flow of water over it. The moment of the downstream arm of the balanced beam is greater than that of the upstream arm by an amount equal to the force necessary to overcome the friction around the pivot. This would cause the gate to rise; but it is counterbalanced by a weight acting on the downstream arm of the beam, with a moment opposite to and equal to double the difference of the moments in the arms of the beam.

The counterbalance-weight K, Figs. 3 and 4, consists of a water-tight vessel the weight of which when empty is less than the weight of a volume of water of similar contents to its own total volume. It is hungin a well in the abutment or pier and in Fig. 3 is connected with the downstream arm of the balanced beam by a rope and pulleys. The well is connected at the bottom with the water in the dam or waterway, and as the water rises in the well it neutralizes the effect of the weight of the counterbalance and the gate rises. As the water falls again the counterbalance is allowed to act and the gate falls. Fig. 4 shows the same method applied for the purpose of lowering the gate when the water on the upstream side attains a certain height, regulated by the height of the inlet-hole to the well L. The time that it may be desired the gate should remain open is regulated by the size of the outlet-pipe J, connecting the bottom of the well with the waterway on the downstream side of the gate.

Fig. 5 shows a gate A composed of two curves of contrary fiexure. The advantages of this gate compared with a single are are that it requires a shorter balanced beam and that the point at which it is fixed to the abutment is lower. The disadvantages are that considered as a girder it is of shallower depth and when lowered its upper curve is not contained in the dip in the bed of the waterway, thus lessening the effective depth of the channel. While the use of the leverbeam forms a convenient way of balancing the weight of the gate and pivoting it to the abutments and of operating the same and while it forms a valuable part of the invention, it is not essentially necessary to the use of the curvilinear gate, which may be ba1- anced or operated by any other method.

Fig. 6'shows a one-arc gate A which is moved in a lined recess in the abutment and on an endlesswheel-chain N with a return.

track and on a wheel attached to its lower edge in the curved dip in the bed of the waterway. The method shown here of lifting the gate is that of hydraulic power by the use of a cylinder Q and piston and tackle, the gate falling of its own weight.

Hydraulic power may be used to operate curvilinear gates with or without balanced beams, a number of which may be operated sim ultaneously by the employment of a cylinder and piston on each abutment and pier connected with a pump or head of water.

Gates may be constructed to anydi'mensions and of any suitable material. Figs. 1 and 2 show the general details and fixings of a gate constructed of iron. For smaller bays a single web-plate could be used stiffened longitudinally and diagonally by half-oval and transverselyby bulb T-irons or other suitable section. When double web-plates are used, the downstream plate should have sufficient vent-holes to allow of the free egress of water. In gates of small dimensions a handlever may be substituted for the balanced beam.

The advantages of my improved water-gate are:

First. The curved figure of the gate under pressure of water on the convex side constitutes it a self-braced girder with a depth equal to the versed sire of half the angle of the are formed by that figure.

Second. No structure in the shape of a bridge or framing over the waterway is necessary from which to operate the gate, thus allowing Water carrying trees or other debris to pass over it without obstruction.

Third. The gate when erector closed forms,

with the dip in the floor of the waterway, a

suitable curved fall and'water-cushion for the passage of water and the protection of the bed of the waterway.

Fourth. When the gate is lowered or open, it requires no special receptacle, but lies in the dip of the water-cushion, offering no resistance to the free flow of water.

Fifth. Combined with the balanced beam and pivoted to the abutments or piers all the force necessary to operate it is that required to overcome the friction about the pivots. This force may be exerted in a mini- "mum of time without shock or strain to any part of the structure.

Sixth. Because of the small amount of force necessary to operate the gate a number of gates may be raised simultaneously with hydraulic or any other power. This will be of great advantage in quickly-rising rivers or streams.

Seventh. The small amount of force required to operate the gate makes it especially easy to do this automatically by the use of floats and tackle, as shown. Thus a stream the ordinary flow of which may be taken into an irrigation-canal in time of flood may be passed across its bed, by the use of a gate in the lower side of the canal, and across the course of the stream, and made to fall automatically when the Water reaches a certain height and, if necessary, gates may rise automatically and close the canal on either side of the stream. Gates with automatic gear, as shown in Fig. 3, are suitable for canalregulators and, as shown in Fig. 4, for wasteways and escapes.

The water-bar is an accessory to the gate to be used when necessary to economize water.

I may, if desired, provide means for adjusting the gate in relation to its axis, so as to allow it to rest and make joint against the fixed abutments when stationary and to withdraw it from contact with same when any movement or adjustment of the gate is to be made. These means may conveniently consist of mounting the balance-levers slidingly on their pivots with screw or other means for lengthening and shortening the radius of the said levers.

Referring to Figs. 8, 9, and 10, M is the castiron trough; O, the short blocks of wood; R, boards of the same length as blocks; S, conti nuous leather packing; T, water-pipes, and U are the nails fastening the blocks 0, boards R, and the leather S together.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, V is the upstream web of the gate; V, the downstream web; 47;, a channel-iron; y, the web of ba1-.

ance-beam; Z, angle-irons; W, a holding-fillet; W, a holding-clip; Z, aliner; Y, leather or rubber packing, and X a cast-iron plate in the face of masonry.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A water-gate having a damming-surface consisting of the segment of a circle, means for balancing the said gate about a horizontal axis coincident with the center of the said curved gate, in combination with a controlling eounterbalance-weight K, a well containing said balance-weight, always in communication with the water under control and means to connect said balance-weight with the water-gate, substantially as described.

2. A water-gate having a damming-surface consisting of the segment of a circle, means for balancing the said gate about a horizontal axis coincident with'the center of the said curved gate, in combination with a controlling balance-weight, a well containing said balance-weight, a passage connecting the upper part of said well with the water under control, and another passage connecting the bottom of said well with the downstream and means to connect said balance-weight with the water-gate under control, substantially as described.

3. A curvilinear water-gate having a damming-surface consisting of the segment of a circle and means for controlling the movements of same in combination with a water- Way arranged to fit the sides and periphery of the said gate, elastic adjustable packing held in the side edges of the gate, a watercheck formed in the floor of the waterway consisting of a trough, a packing-piece in said trough and a passage connecting the bottom of said trough with the water under control, substantially as described.

4. A curvilinear water-gate having a body portion formed on a curve and an apron or upper portion formed on a reverse curve, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY ARTHUR IOKE.

Witnesses:

RICHARD A. HOFFMANN, CHARLES CARTER. 

